Fulling mill



Oct. 24, 1944. B. M. JONES ET AL FULLING MILL Filed Aug. 3, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 24, 1944. B. M. JONES ET AL 2,360,877

FULLING MILL Filed Aug. 3, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 WEZ Get. 24', 1944 B. M. JONES ET AL FULLING MILL Filed Aug. 3, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ede 72 5071] 75226.9 77. 4757766 Emma C .A-m

B. M. JONES ET AL FULLING MILL Filed Aug. 3, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 EN m r QN NQWN . Get. 24, 1944. B. M. JONES ET AL 2,360,877

FULLING MILL Filed Aug. 3, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 N azirr iWcZEzaes Oct. 24-, 1944. B, M. JONES ETAL FULLING MILL Filed Aug. 3-, 1942 e Sheets-Sheet 6 A IIIIFIIHI' 77717227766 .s't CfAvnes,

,8 4r may Patented Oct. 24, 1944 FULLING MILL Bliss M. Jones and Forrest C. Ames, Orange, Mass., assignors to Rodney Hunt Machine Company, Orange, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 3, 1942, Serial'No. 453,364

16 Claims.

This application relates to new and improved fulling mills and theprincipal object. of the invention is to provide more easily-set up and more inexpensively manufactured fulling mills,- mainly by providing a unit frame supporting the fulling apparatus, and separatetub and cover members of light materials, contrary to the accepted prior art practice.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a strong frame adapted to be set up on the floor of the mill and mounting the fulling rolls, packing box, and throat guide plates, without the conventional structural supporting relation to-the fulling mill tub, the latter being made of light weight sheet material and being separate from and completely free of the fulling mechanism; the provision of a separate light weight cover or covers for the tub to complete and enclose the same and to enclose the fulling mechanism; and the provision of a cover for the fulling mill, said cover-being easily removable for completeand convenientaccess to the fulling mechanismwithout disturbance to the tub or the fulling mechanism.

Still further objects of the invention include the provision of a novel counterbalanced door for the tub and a new and more compact and'convenient packing box and throat plate mechanism; and the provision of a new throat guide wear plate made of glass.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be hadto theace'ompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a fulling mill embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is aview in elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. l, the doors of the mill being closed;

Fig. 2a is a partial view of the construction of Fig. 2 but showing the doors open;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation showing the construction of the tub;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 3 with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation showing the cover for th fulling mill;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of the construction of Fig. 6;

Fig. 81s a top plan view of Fig. 6; I

Fig. 9 is a view in front elevation of the throat plates and their support;

Fig. 10 is a section on line Ill-ii) of Fig. 9;

Fig-.11 isatop plan view of one of the throat plates looking inthe direction of arrow H in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is aview in side elevation of the fulling rolls;

Fig. 13 is a section on line l3l3-of Fig. 1.2;

Fig. .14 isa View in side elevation of the packing box,..and

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the packingbox looking in the directionof arrow l5'in Fig;.14.

The conventional fulling mill heretofore known in .the art comprises in general a heavycastiron framelwhich has a special shape outlining the curved-bottom..tub, the ,fulling rolls; and the packinghox to thev rear of therolls; a heavy. tub bolted to and supported on the heavy castiron frame; and fulling rolls and operatingdevices therefor .mounted on the frame and supported thereby and bythe tub largely on a U-shaped part of the cast iron frame. This construction has'always been inconvenient for cleaning and.

servicing the machine, for setting it -up,-,and for transporting it, mainly the-cast iron frame membershave always been more or lesspermanently secured tov the tub, and because'of the peculiar shape of. the frame, rendering the tub and the topof themachine substantially integral parts of the frame. and resultin inan extremely heavy and awkward constructionand preventing disassembly. The present invention provides a completely new fulling mill which is greatly simplified-asto construction, manufacture, and setting up; and, which is--more convenient for taking down, cleaning, servicing and transporting, as Will-be hereinafter described.

.The main support for the present machine compriseslan' open box-like iron. beam constructionwhich may be'made in large part of cast iron or from ordinary I-beams and channel irons. In Figs. 1, 2, .andi l, the'fulling'mill is shown'ias setup on.a mill floor it, there being an opening orpit [25in the floor. for accommodating the lowerpart .of the tub of thefulling mill. The baseof the machine ismade up of vertically .disposed channel irons or castings. l which' are supported at their lower ends: directly on the floor of the mill. or on. piers longitudinal channel ironsor castingszl Fat. each sideof. the frame, and as many cross beams such asl8 asare necessary to. carry the jullingv mechanism and complete 'theframe. Theframe comprising themembers: M; l 6, and; l 8 makes up the "entireisupport for the completefulling mechanism and it will be seen that the new frame is a :very-greatsimplification I and improvement over. thespecially made fulling mill frames heretofore thought necessary in the art.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the bottom 2fl-of the tub is formed to substantially hold the shape required by fulling mill practice, and this formation is obtained in the present invention by means of bending a plastic or flexible sheet to the form shown, such sheet being made of sheet iron, stainless steel, any plastic laminated material, plastic plywood, or any other like material. The tub bottom 20 may be secured in place by bending the front and rear ends over the front and rear cross beams 18, as is indicated at 22; the shape of the bottom being retained and the tub supported by means of cross bars 24, certain of these cross bars being suspended from the iron frame as by adjustable struts 26, the latter comprising straps connected to screw thread rods 28 bolted to appropriate flanges of the longitudinal beams H or to convenient brackets 30. The lateral sides 32 of the tub and the center partition 34 in the case of double mills, may be made of the same material as the bottom 20 and as here illustrated assume an area in excess of the tub so as to extend beyond the bottom thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 3 for the purpose of receiving rods therethrough to secure side walls 32 to bottom 20 by bars 24 to complete the tub of the machine. It will be appreciated from the above description that the tub of the Present fulling mill is easily detachable from the base frame, is very simply manufactured, it is extremely light in comparison to the tubs of prior art fulling mills, it is easily separable from the base frame, this having been impossible in the prior art devices, and it is completely independent of the fullin mechanism.

It will be seen that the tub bottom 20 and the side walls 32 complete the tub as to its sides and rear, the front of the tub being open above the front cross beam [8. The front of the mill is provided with a movable door arrangement which is easier to open and is simpler in construction than the prior art devices. This construction comprises an open frame composed of a pair of uprights 40 which are separably mounted on front beam 3 and conform to the beam as by the rabbet 42. These uprights are grooved longitudinally on their interior facing surfaces for the sliding reception of parallel doors 44 which will be seen to be slidable vertically to and from each other in the grooves to close and open the front of the machine. Uprights 40 extend considerably above the top of the machine andbelow and to the rear of front cross beam l 8, so that in open condition the upper door 44 may be raised above the machine and the lower door may be lowered to a point below the front beam l8. Each upright mounts a pulley 46 at its upper end, and cables 48 pass over these pulleys, the ends of the cables being connected to separate doors. This construction provides an exact counter-balance for the doors so that little effort is required to open or close them, and the doors will remain in any position where placed, one door being operated by the other.

Referring now to Fig. 12 there is here shown an iron frame 50 which is bolted in upright position on a longitudinal beam Hi. Frame 50 carries the movable upper fulling roll 52 by means of a sliding bearing 54 which slidably mounts a rotary bearing 56 journaling the upper roll shaft 58. A stop screw 60 is threaded into frame 50 in position to adjustably limit the lowermost position of bearing 56, and the upper roll is tensioned but resiliently yieldable in an upward direction by the provision of a compression spring 62 which bears against the top of bearing 56 and upwardly against a pivoted cap 64 mounted to depend from a lever 66 pivoted at one end on frame 50. The other end of the lever is connected to a link 68 which is vertically adjustable to vary the tension to be applied to the top roll. 1A tension indicating rod 10 is mounted in fixed position on frame 50 and a cooperating pointer 12 may be mounted to be movable with cap 64 to indicate the degree of tension on the upper roll. Lower roll M is mounted to rotate in a bearing 16 which is directly mounted on the beam I6 between the legs of frame 50. It will be clear that the construction shown in Fig. 12 is duplicated at the opposite side of the machine, so that the disclosure as to the one side is thought to be sufficient to illustrate the invention, and it will be clear that the entire fulling roll mounting is supported directly on the longitudinal beams l6 so that the tub-is quite distinctly separate from the fulling roll mechanism.

Referring now to Figs. 14 and 15, the packing box will now be described. This packing box comprises a pair of open iron frame members which are supported in spaced relation at each side of the fulling rolls on a pair of cross beams 18. Frames 80 extend from a position forwardly of the fulling rolls to a position considerably to the rear thereof, and a packing box bottom 82 is adjustably mounted by means of inclined slots and bolts therefor as at 84 in frame 80 as shown in Fig. 14, so that the forward end 86 of the packing box bottom may be adjusted in a substantially tangential manner with relation to the lower fulling roll 14. The packing box cover 88 is pivotally mounted at 90 on the frames 80 and may be weighted by means of a weighted rod 92. The packing box bottom 82 and cover 88 are made of wood or other suitable material and cooperating with them to complete the box are wooden or other suitable side members 94 secured to the inner sides of the frames. The forward ends of frames 80 are provided with a pair of apertured bosses 9B for a purpose to be described. The construction of the packing box is seen to provide for mounting the same directly on the base frame of the machine and thus to avoid any interference or connection with the tub and the packing boxes, so that the packing boxes as well as the fulling rolls are mounted solely ontlie base frame, all in easily separable condition with relation to the tub.

The throat plates and their adjusting means are mounted directly on and are supported by the forward ends of the packing box frame members 80 as is shown in Fig. 9, and therefore the throat plates are also completely free of the tub. Bosses 9E rotatably support a pair of parallel'right and left hand screw threaded shafts 98 whichare adapted for simultaneous rotation by means of the hand wheel I00 and sprocket I02 shown in Fig. 12, the hand wheel and sprocket being supported directly on the shafts. The screw threaded shafts 98 are engaged with corresponding screw threads located in bosses I04 which are mounted on the throat plates I96 so that rotation of the shafts will adjust the throat; plates to and from each other. Each throat plate is provided with a pair of brackets 108 which extend toward each other in pairs as shown in Fig. 9 for the purpose of supporting a pair of vertical rub rods U!) which are seen to be adjustable with the throat plates I 96. The packing box frames 8ll-also mount a pair of spaced horizontal rub rods I-IZ- which cooperate with the vertical rub rods to define an openin for the cloth string to be fed into the fulling rolls.

An important aspect of the present invention resides in a novel wear-plate for the throat guide plates, this new wear-plate comprising a sheet of glass II l which assumes the shape of the throat plate and is bolted thereto as by bolts I I6. It has been discovered that the use of glass for throat guide wear-plates is extremely efficient and long lasting and provides the smoothest throat guide yet devised for fulling mills. The bolts II6 may be countersunk directly into the glass for avoiding any projections to interfere with the preparation of the cloth.

A further very important aspect of the inventionresides in the cover construction which provides the top of the fulling mill and completes the enclosure of which the tub forms the bottom. This cover construction comprises a plastic laminated sheet, sheet metal, or the like frame having side walls I and a top I22. The side walls are cut out as at I26 to provide for passage therethrough of the roll shafts, and further cutouts at I at the forward ends of the side walls I23. provide for passage of the extendin ends of screw shafts 98. The rear end of this cover is provided with a hinged door I28 for access to the packing box or boxes, and the sides and top of the cover may be secured-by any convenient means such as braces I30. The top I22 is shorter than the sides to provide for the reception of a semi-circular separate cover I32 of like material to accommodate the upper roll, and cover I32 may be'detachably connected to cover side walls I20 by any desired means.

The forward end of the cover comprises a U- construction having discs I34 cut out at I36 to cooperate with cut outs I26 to accomodate shafts 98, and a top I38 connecting the sides I34 and extending the width of the machine. Uprights 40 are secured to the forward cover for unitary removal and attachment, and the front roll of the mill extends through openings I40 for removal with the front cover. The front of the front cover is open to accommodate the top door 44, as will be clear.

When it is desired to dismantle the machine for servicing, the top cover part I32 is removed, the cover I22 is then lifted off in rearward direction, and the front cover part at I34 is removed together with uprights 40, front roll, and doors 44, leaving the fulling mechanism completely exposed. The tub may also be separately, completely taken apart and removed without disturbing the fulling mechanism 'or any of the framework, and the entire machine can be set up with little time and effort expended due to the separate nature of the tub, covers, and fulling mill framework Id, I6, I8, so that it will be apparent that the fulling mill has been greatly simplified and improved and has been rendered easier and cheaper to manufacture.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a heavy framework adapted to be mounted on a floor or other support, fulling rolls mounted on said framework, a separate, removable fulling mill tub located below the rolls in position to receive liquors therefrom, a support for the tub, said tub being completely separate and independcomprising means for passing cloth strings into the liquor in the tub.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a heavy framework comprising vertical columns, horizontal beams, and cross-bars, fulling rolls mounted on the horizontal beams, a packing box mounted on the cross-bars, and throat plates mounted on the packing box, a light weight tub below the rolls, box, and plates, said tub being located to function as the fulling mill tub, said tub being separable from and independent of said rolls, box, and plates, and removable from the framework.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a framework, textile treating mechanism supported solely on the framework, a tub of thin sheet material located below and supported separately from the mechanism, a light weight removable cover for said mechanism, said cover and tub enclosing the mechanism and forming the apparatus enclosure, said cover being completely removable from the apparatus.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a framework, fulling mechanism including fulling rolls, packing box, and throat plates, said mechanism being mounted directly on the framework, a light weight open-top tubdisposed" be low the mechanism in position to act as the fulling tub, means to support the tub independently and separately from the mechanism, a cover for said tub closing its open top, said cover being effective to enclose the fulling mechanism and being separable therefrom to open the apparatus without disturbing said framework.

5. Inan apparatus of the class described, a framework including longitudinal and cross bars, said framework being adapted to be mounted on a floor or other support, an upstanding bracket on each longitudinal bar, fulling roll shafts mounted to rotate in said brackets, a light weight open top separate tub disposed beneath the rolls, means to support the tub, a separate cover mounted on the tub to close its open top, said cover having at least two separable parts, means for accommodating the fulling shafts in said cover.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a framework, fulling rolls on the framework and extending at least in part above the framework, an open top tub disposed below the rolls, a cover for closing the tub, said cover being formed of at least two parts, one of which rests on the other and accommodates the upper fulling roll, said cover parts being separable both from each other and from the tub without disturbing the framework.

'7. In an apparatus of the class described, a framework, relatively movable fulling roll shafts mounted to rotate in said framework, rolls on said shafts, an open-top tub disposed below the shafts, and a three part cover for enclosing the rolls, said cover comprising two separable parts accommodating the roll shafts so that the latter may extend laterally beyond the cover, and a third separable part mounted on the first two parts and enclosing the upper roll.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a framework, fulling roll shafts mounted to rotate on the framework, a tub disposed below the rolls,

' said tub being substantially open at front and cover, to close and open the front of the apparatus, said doors counterbalancing each other. 9. An apparatus as recited inclaim 8 wherein said one cover part extends above the cover and mounts a pulley, and a cord secured at its ends to said doors and being trained over the pulley. 10. In a textile machine, a framework, textile finishing machinery disposed on the framework, a light removable cover on the framework and a tub suspended from the framework, said tub and cover being completely separable from the frameworkand cooperating to form a complete enclosure for the textile material being operated upon, and the tub being in position to function as a liquor retaining means, and said textile machinery comprising means for passing cloth strings into liquor in the tub. 11. In an apparatus of the class described, framework, fulling mechanism mounted directly on the framework, a tub secured to and depending from the framework below the fulling mechanism, said tub being separate and independent of the fulling mechanism and framework.

12. In a fulling mill, a framework, a pair of fulling rolls on the framework, throat guides for the rolls, and glass wear plates on the throat guides.

13. In a fulling mill, a framework, a pair of fulling rolls on the framework, throat guides for the rolls, said guides being generally parallel, glass wear plates on the facing surfaces of the guides, and countersunk fastening means securing the glass plates to the guides.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, a framework comprising longitudinal and cross beams, fulling rolls mounted on said longitudinal beams, a packing box mounted on certain of said cross beams, throat guides mounted for movement to and from each other on the packing box side walls, a horizontal rub rod mounted on said packing box side walls forwardly of the guides, and a vertical rub rod mounted on each throat guide for movement therewith.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, a framework, fulling rolls mounted on the framework, a separable tub suspended from the framework, said tub having an open top, a separable cover for said tub, said cover comprising at least two separable parts, a pair of uprights on one part of the cover, and a pair of sliding doors in said uprights for opening or closing the infeed side of the apparatus.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15 including a third cover part adapted to accommodate the upper fulling roll.

BLISS M. JONES. FORREST C. AMES. 

